Induction means



J. DOLZA INDUCTION MEANS Sept. 18, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 22, 1954 J. DOLZA INDUCTION MEANS Sept. 18, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 22, 1954 United States Patent INDUCTION MEANS John Dolza, Davisburg, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application November 22, 1954, Serial No. 470,385

16 Claims. (Cl. 123-119) The present invention relates to engines and more particularly to air cleaners for the induction systems in internal combustion engines.

It is now the practice to employ air cleaners on the induction systems of internal combustion engines to prevent dust and other foreign substances present in the air being drawn through the induction system into the engine cylinders. These air cleaners have generally contained at filter material or some form of centrifugal separator suitable for eliminating the dust etc. in the air. Also due to the large volume of air flowing into the induction system and the violent surges present therein, a silencing chamber has been incorporated into the air cleaner for silencing the flow of air entering the induction system. This combined air cleaner and silencer assembly produces an extremely bulky structure and when it is connected to a socalled downdraft carburetor, it is normally positioned above the carburetor. As a result the over-all height of the engine is greatly increased.

It is now proposed to provide an air cleaner and silencer assembly which is adapted to be mounted concentrically around the carburetor rather than on top thereof to thereby decrease the over-all height of the engine. This may be accomplished by providing an air cleaner and silencer assembly having a chamber with a filter element disposed therein to divide the chamber into upper and lower compartments. The filter element may consist of a suitable porous substance that will allow air to flow therethrough while still remain ng impervious to dust etc. The fuel supply means which includes a fuel pump and a carburetor may be positioned in the lower compartment with the intake for the carburetor extending upwardly through the filter element. Thus as the air enters the lower compartment it will flow around the fuel supply means and up through the filter into the upper compartment before it enters the carburetor. If desired, the upper and lower compartments may be proportioned to effectively dampen or absorb the noises produced by the air flowing into the engine. it may be seen that by placing the carburetor inside of and concentric with the lower compartment, the over-all height of the engine may be greatly reduced.

During the operation of an internal combustion engine large quantities of heat are produced which tend to materially raise the temperature of the engine and all of the accessories for the engine. When the ambient temperature is high, this heat may raise the temperature of the fuel supply system sufficiently to cause the fuel flowing therethrough to vaporize. If vapors collect in the fuel pump or some other portion of the fuel system, a vapor lock may occur in the fuel system which will effectively prevent the operation of the engine.

It is now proposed to provide cooling means which will be effective for preventing the heat from the engine heating the fuel system and causing a vapor lock to occur. This may be accomplished by providing a chamber in the air cleaner and silencer assembly that is adapted to Patented Sept. 18, 6

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receive portions of the fuel supply system such as the fuel pump and carburetor. By placing these portions in substantial alignment with the air inlet, all of the air flowing into the induction system will strike the fuel pump etc. This large volume of air will absorb the engine heat in and around the fuel pump and carburetor. Accordingly, the temperature will be retained well below the vaporizing temperature of the fuel in the fuel supply system. In addition, means may be provided for preheating the air entering the engine induction system when the engine is below its normal operating temperature, and

as a result, the carburetor will be subjected to this heated invention may be embodied in an air cleaner and silencer assembly 10 suitable for installation on an internal combustion engine 12. In the present instance this engine 12 is of the so-called V-type having a cylinder block with angularly disposed banks of cylinders that form a plurality of combustion chambers.

An intake manifold 14 may be disposed in the space between the banks of cylinders with a plurality of distribution passages communicating with the various combustion chambers. A carburetor riser 16 may be provided on the manifold 14 that communicates with the distribution passages and is adapted to receive a carburetor 18.

An exhaust manifold 24) may extend along the opposite sides of the cylinder block to collect the exhaust gases from the cylinders and discharge them into the atmosphere by means of an exhaust system. This systern may include an exhaust crossover pipe 22 that extends across the front end of the engine 12 to interconnect the exhaust manifolds 20 on the opposite sides of the engine 12.

In addition to the intake manifold 14 the induction system may also include an air cleaner and silencer assembly 10 that is mounted on the intake manifold 14. The present assembly 10 includes a housing 24 having a cover 26 and four walls 23 that project vertically upwardly from the manifold 14. The cover 26 may be detachably secured to the top of these walls 28 so as to enclose the space therebetween and form a chamber 30 containing the carburetor riser 16. Thus if the carburetor 18 is of the so-called downdraft type and it is mounted on the carburetor riser 16, it will be disposed in this chamber 30 with the intake 32 thereof positioned adjacent the cover 26. In order to facilitate attaching and detaching the cover 26, the carburetor intake 32 may have a bracket 34 with a bolt 36 projecting through the cover 26 to receive a wing nut 38.

The housing 24 may include an extension 40 that projects forwardly from one of the walls 28 of the housing to terminate adjacent the exhaust crossover pipe 22. This extension 46 may define a passage 42 having one end thereof communicating with the chamber 30. The other end of the passage 42 may form a horizontally elongated intake opening 44 immediately above the exhaust crossover pipe 22. Thus atmospheric air for the induction system may be drawn directly through this opening 44 into the passage 42 and then into the chamber 30. A shroud 46 may be formed around the exhaust pipe 22 i in spaced relation thereto to form a passage 48 in heat exchanging relation with the exhaust pipe 22. This heating passage 48 may communicate with the intake passage 42 by means of an opening 50 in one wall of the shroud 46.

A butterfly valve 52 may be mounted on a pin 54 extending horizontally across the intake opening 44 so that the valve 52 may move between a vertical or closed position and a horizontal or open position. When this valve 52 is in the closed position, it will close the intake opening 44 and prevent the air being drawn directly from the atmosphere into the intake passage 42. Instead, the air must flow inwardly from the opposite ends of the shroud 46 in heat exchanging relation with the exhaust pipe 22 and then through the opening 50 into the intake passage 42. However, when the butterfly valve 52 is in the open position, the air may then flow directly from the atmosphere through the intake opening 44 into the passage 42 and the chamber 30. At the same time the air may be deflected through the lower portion of the intake opening 44 into the shroud 46 and out through the opposite ends thereof thereby cooling the exhaust crossover pipe 22 and the surrounding structure. A thermostatic element 55 may be provided in heat exchanging relation with the engine for automatically positioning the butterfly valve 52 in the vertical or closed position when the engine is cold and in the horizontal or open position when the engine is hot.

The upper ends of the vertical walls 28 of the housing 24 and the periphery of the removable cover 26 may be provided with cooperating shoulder means 56 and 58 that are positioned to receive a filter element 60 therebetween. Thus the filter element 63 may be clamped in position between the cover 26 and walls 28 thereby dividing the chamber 36 into an upper compartment 62 and a lower compartment 64. It should be noted that if desired these compartments may be proportioned for dampening the sounds produced by the air entering the induction system. The filter element 60 may have an opening 66 in the middle thereof which will permit the carburetor 13 to be disposed in the lower compartment 64 with the intake end 32 thereof being disposed in the opening 66 to communicate with the upper compartment 62.

Although the filter element 69 may be of any desired construction, in the present instance it includes a pair of perforated retaining members 68 which are separated from each other by means of a corrugated member 70 consisting of a porous material. The corrugated member 70 preferably has enough porosity to allow the air to flow freely therethrough but at the same time, it is impervious to dust and other foreign substances which may be present in the air. A band 72 may be provided which extends completely around the filter 60 to secure all of the members together to form a single integral structure.

It may thus be seen that after the air has entered the lower compartment 64, it will flow vertically upwardly through the filter element 69 into the upper compartment 62. As the air passes through the filter 60, the dust etc. therein will be separated from the air and collected on the lower surface of the filter element 60. After this filtered air has entered the upper compartment 62, it may flow radially inwardly into the carburetor intake 32. Since the dust etc. will collect in the lower compartment 64, it may be desirable to periodically remove the cover 26 and clean or replace the filter element 66. Any dust that has, settled in the lower chamber 64 may also be removed at this time.

A fuel supply system may be provided for delivering the fuel to the carburetor 18. In the present instance this system includes a fuel pump 74 that is mounted on the intake manifold 14 contiguous to the carburetor 18 for discharging the fuel directly into the carburetor 18. The carburetor 18 and especially the fuel pump are preferably placed in the lower compartment 64 in front of the opening in substantially direct alignment with the inlet 4 passage 42. Thus all of the air flowing through the passage 42 into the induction system will form a blast of air that will impinge upon the fuel pump 74 and carburetor 18.

Thus when the air is entering through the inlet opening 44, there will be a large volume of cool atmospheric air flowing around the carburetor 13 and fuel pump 74 that will absorb the engine heat from this area and thereby maintain their temperature sufiiciently below the fuels vapor point to prevent vaporization thereof. This in turn will eliminate a vapor lock occurring.

It should be noted that when the engine 12 is below its normal operating temperatures, the thermostat will close the valve 52 and cause the air to pass through the shroud 46 and be heated by the exhaust pipe 22. Thus when the icing of the carburetor 18 is most apt to occur, the air flowing therearound will be heated to thereby reduce the likelihood of such icing occurring.

What is claimed is:

1. An air cleaner for an engine induction system comprising a housing forming a chamber, an air filter element disposed inside of said housing to divide said chamber into two separate compartments, said filter element being adapted to allow air to flow therethrough from one of said compartments to the other of said compartments, inlet means communicating with the atmosphere and having a passage communicating with the first of said compartments, said first compartment being adapted to receive fuel supply means including a carburetor having the intake thereof adapted to extend through said filter element to communicate with the second of said compartments.

2. An air cleaner for an engine induction system comprising a housing having a plurality of walls secured together and a cover secured to said walls to form a chamber, an air filter element disposed in said housing to divide said chamber into two separate compartments, said filter element being adapted to allow air to flow therethrough from one of said compartments into the other of said compartments, inlet means having a passage extending through one of said walls for interconnecting one of said compartments with the atmosphere, said last mentioned compartment being adapted to receive fuel supply means, said fuel supply means including a carburetor having the intake therefor adapted to extend through said filter element and communicate with the other of said compartments.

3. An air cleaner for the intake of an engine induction system having a carburetor therein, said air cleaner comprising a housing forming a chamber, an air filter element disposed inside of said housing to divide said chamber into two separate compartments, said filter element being adapted to permit air to flow therethrough from one of said compartments to the other of said compartments,

: said filter element also having an aperture therethrough,

the first of said compartments being adapted to receive a carburetor having the intake therefor adapted to project through said aperture into the second of said compartments, inlet means having a passage interconnecting the atmosphere with said first compartment, said passage being positioned in substantial alignment with said carburetor.

4. An air cleaner for the intake of an engine induction system, said air cleaner comprising a housing having a plurality of walls and a cover secured together to form said upper compartment and having an opening therein to permit the intake end of said carburetor to communicate with said upper compartment.

5. In an engine having banks of cylinders angularly disposed with respect to each other to form a space therebetween, an induction system comprising a housing adapted to be secured to said engine in said space, said housing forming a chamber therein, an air filter element mounted in said housing for dividing said chamber into two separate compartments, an air inlet on said housing for interconnecting the first of said compartments with the atmosphere, fuel mixing means disposed in said first compartment and communicating with the other of said other compartments.

6. In an engine having banks of cylinders angularly disposed with respect to each other to form a space therebetween, an induction system comprising a housing adapted to be secured in said space and forming a chamber therein, an air filter element disposed in said housing to divide said chamber into two separate compartments, said filter element having an opening therethrough positioned to interconnect said compartments with each other, an air inlet formed in said housing to interconnect the atmosphere with the first of said compartments, a carburetor disposed in said first compartment with the inlet therefor projecting through said opening in said filter element to communicate with the other of said compartments.

7. In an engine having banks of cylinders angularly disposed with respect to each other so as to form a space therebetween, an induction system comprising a housing adapted to be secured in said space and forming a chamber therein, an air filter element positioned horizontally in said housing to divide said chamber into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, said element being adapted to permit air to flow therethrough from one of said compartments to the other of said compartments, said element having an opening therethrough, inlet means having a passage with one end thereof open to the atmosphere and with the other end thereof communicating with said lower compartment, a carburetor disposed in said lower compartment in substantial alignment with said passage, said carburetor having the intake therefor projecting through said opening to communicate with said upper compartment.

8. Charge forming means for an engine comprising an air cleaner, an air filter element disposed in said air cleaner, a compartment on one side of said filter element and another compartment on the other side of said filter element, said filter element being adapted to permit air to flow from one of said compartments to the other of said compartments, an inlet in said air cleaner interconnecting one of said compartments with the atmosphere to allow air to flow into said compartment, fuel supply means disposed in said last mentioned compartment and including a fuel pump and a carburetor with the intake thereof disposed in said compartment.

9. Charge forming means for an engine comprising an air cleaner, an air filter element disposed in said air cleaner for dividing said air cleaner into a compartment disposed above said filter :element and a compartment disposed below said filter element, an inlet in said air cleaner interconnecting said lower compartment with the atmosphere to allow air to flow into said lower compartment, fuel supply means positioned in said lower compartment in substantial alignment with said flow of air, said fuel supply means including a fuel pump and a carburetor, said filter element being adapted to permit air to flow from said lower compartment into said upper compartment, said filter element also having an opening therein to permit the intake for said carburetor to project into said upper compartment.

10. An air cleaner comprising a housing forming a chamber, a filter element disposed in said housing for dividing said chamber into two separate compartments,

said filter element including a pair of spaced perforated retaining members and a fibrous member disposed between said retaining members, said fibrous member being porous enough to allow air to flow therethrough but being impervious to foreign particles present in such air, inlet means interconnecting one of said compartments with the atmosphere, and outlet means for the other of said compartments forming an opening through said filter element.

11. An air cleaner comprising a housing forming a chamber, a filter element disposed in said housing for dividing said chamber into two separate compartments and having an opening in the middle thereof, said filter element including a pair of spaced perforated retaining members and a corrugated sheet of fibrous material disposed betweensaid retaining members, said sheet being porous enough to allow air to flow freely therethrough but being impervious to foreign particles present in said air, an inlet communicating with one of said compartments, said compartment being adapted to receive a carburetor having the inlet projecting into said opening so as to communicate with the other of said compartments.

12. An air cleaner comprising a housing having a plurality of walls and a cover, a shoulder extending around the top of said walls, a filter element having a pair of spaced perforated retaining members with a porous fibrous member therebetween, said filter element being seated on said shoulder to form a first compartment, said cover being secured over said filter element to form a second compartment, one of said walls having an opening therein to form an inlet into said first compartment, a carburetor disposed in said first compartment with the intake therefor extending through said filter element and communicating with said second compartment.

13. An air cleaner adapted to be mounted on an intake manifold, said air cleaner comprising a housing having a plurality of vertical walls and a removable cover, opposed shoulder means on said walls and said cover, a filter element compressed between said shoulder means to form a first compartment on one side of said filter element and a second compartment on the opposite side of said filter element, one of said walls having an opening therethrough forming an inlet into one of said compartments, fuel supply means disposed in said last mentioned compartment in substantial alignment with said inlet, said fuel supply means including a carburetor having the intake therefor projecting through said filter element into the other of said compartments.

14. In an engine having banks of cylinders angularly disposed with respect to each other to form a space therebetween and having exhaust means extending between said banks, an induction system comprising a housing adapted to be secured to said engine in said space, said housing forming a chamber having an air filter element mounted therein for dividing said chamber into two separate compartments, air inlet means having a passage with one end thereof communicating with one of said compartments, valve means disposed in the other end of said passage and being movable between an open position and a closed position, said valve means when in the open position drawing air directly into said passage from the atmosphere, said valve means when in the closed position drawing air into said passage which has passed in heat exchanging relation with said exhaust means, fuel supply means disposed in said last mentioned compartment in substantial alignment with said inlet passage.

15. In an engine having banks of cylinders angularly disposed with respect to each other to form a space therebetween and having exhaust means extending between said banks, an induction system comprising a housing adapted to be secured to said engine in said space, said housing forming a chamber having an air filter element mounted therein for dividing said chamber into two separate compartments, air inlet means having a passage with one end thereof communicating with one of said compartments and the other end thereof formingv an.

opening, a shrouddisposed aroundv said exhaust means, valve means disposed'in said opening and being movable between an open position and a closed position, said valve means When in theopen position drawing air directly into said passagefrom the atmosphere, said valve means when in the closed position drawing air into said passage from said shroud, fuel supply means disposed in said last mentioned compartment in substantial alignment with said inlet passage.

16. The induction system of claim 15 including'ther- 8. mostatic means disposed in heat exchanging relation with said engine for movingsaid valve to the closed position when said engine is cold and to move said valve to the open position when said engine is hot.

Referenees Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sebok' Jan. 4, 1955 

